Welcome to our devotional plan on the book of Romans.
This letter was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome. We know from Acts 18 that the church at Rome had existed for some time. At one point the Roman Emperor, Claudius, expelled all the Jews from Rome. About five years later, under a new ruler, they were allowed to return. Consequently the church became divided between those who followed Jewish customs from a Jewish background and those who didn’t, who are referred to as Gentiles. Paul writes to unify them to one church, one family of faith joined together by Jesus. The entire Christian faith was still in its infancy, facing opposition from false teachers, persecution and numerous cultural challenges from the Roman Empire.
Paul uses the occasion to write his most detailed explanation of the Good News of Jesus—the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Then what this Good News means for this new church, this new family of faith.
The book of Romans is broken up into 16 chapters but it is one ongoing explanation of the Good News of Jesus and what it meant for the church in Rome and what it means for me and you today. Each chapter and section builds upon what is written before and we will keep that in mind as we read it together.
When you read these opening verses, what do you think Paul’s main focus of the letter will be?
Paul prays for grace and peace for the Roman church. Who could you pray for today?
Paul begins his letter with introductions and sets the tone for this first main topic - the righteousness of God that is revealed in Jesus. That sounds like a mouthful. Righteousness is a description of God’s character, that God is just and right, God is faithful to fulfil His promises. Paul will begin to explain how Jesus reveals God’s character and fulfilled the Old Testament promises. Furthermore how humanity is made righteous by faith alone in Jesus.
Jesus perfectly reveals God. Think of how Jesus lived and what he did. What does righteousness look like?
The word Gospel means Good News. How is the news of Jesus - Good News? What do you do with Good News?
These verses are quite a heavy read, however a necessary read. Before Paul talks about how Jesus reveals God's righteousness and provides a way for us to be righteous, he shows us that humanity in their own might is morally bankrupt. We in our own power cannot be good and righteous, we need a Saviour.
Paul mentions the wrath of God. We need to be careful with this word. God is not an angry old man wanting to punish everyone, ready to strike and send disasters from heaven. God’s wrath is the response to wickedness, in which he gives humanity over to their own choices. Choices often to hurt one another.
Paul makes a clear connection between idolatry and morally corrupt behaviour. Wrong understanding of God, wrong worship of false gods leads to sin and death. That means our understanding of God and His character are essential.
How would you explain the character of God? (We need to remember Jesus perfectly reveals the character of God.)
Can you see in our world where morally corrupt behaviour has come from idolatry (incorrect worship)? For example the idol of money.
After explaining how humanity is morally corrupt Paul calls out those who are ‘morally superior’ and pass judgement on others (people likely within the church). Jesus also addressed this in His Sermon on the Mount, take out the log in your own eye before the speck in another.
The problem with comparison is there is always someone better off or worse off, better behaved or worse behaved. It can be easy to puff ourselves up by looking down on someone else. In the end, however, we are all in need of a Saviour, we all need Jesus.
Why do you think it is easier to judge someone else than coming humbly as we are?
Paul mentions ‘the law’. The law refers to the Old Testament Mosaic Law, the commandments, instructions and laws given to the Jews by God in the Old Testament. We see in the life of Jesus, the religious leaders who held onto ‘the law’ but denied Jesus. The law was given to bridge the gap, to be fulfilled in Jesus. Observance of the law would make one right but no one was able to observe it fully. That is why Jesus provided a new and life giving way to meet with God.
How does Jesus provide a new and life giving way to live?
In this section Paul explicitly addresses the Jews. Remember there was conflict in the church between the returned Jews and the non-Jewish Christians. Paul doesn’t pull any punches. The Jews thought their ethnicity and observance of the law made them right with God. Paul says, ‘you who teach others, why don’t you teach yourself!’ They knew the law but didn’t follow the law. They would pick and choose just like the Pharisees.
We like to beat up the Pharisees. If we are honest today, how often do we pick and choose? How to love our neighbour, which neighbour to love? We all need help, we all need a Saviour.
Paul also talks about circumcision. Without a lesson in the Old Testament this can read quite strange. Perhaps even with a lesson, but we will give it a go. In the law the Jews were instructed to circumcise every male to set them apart from other nations. God first revealed himself to the Jews but His plan was always to redeem all humanity through Jesus. Many Jews believed simply being a Jew (circumcised) made them right with God. Paul talks about a circumcision of the heart. It isn’t about good behaviour from the morally elite or ethnic identity, it is our heart response to Jesus alone.
David in the Psalms prayed - Lord create a clean heart within me. Let us pray that today. Psalm 51:10
In chapter 3 Paul summarises his arguments so far: Roman culture is morally bankrupt; the morally elite have sinned; and the Jews know the law but do not follow it. He uses a number of Old Testament quotations to prove his point: no one is righteous in their own might; and, we are all in need of a Saviour, Jesus.
In verse 21 Paul brings the hope in Jesus. For now let’s stay here. We can never forget our need for a Saviour. We are all in the same boat. Do we see the world and our neighbours as ‘bad news’ or ‘no good’, or do we see them as in need of a Saviour just like me and you?
Why do we so often try to do things in our own power? Make ourselves right? What do we need to do instead?
Jesus, Jesus is the answer. No one is right in their own power, only by Jesus. Jesus who was born humbly in a manger, lived a perfect life, laid down his life and took sin and death onto himself. Jesus who rose from the grave, is seated in heaven and sent the Spirit for me and you, for all nations for all time. By faith and faith alone in Jesus are we made righteous - right. Jesus reveals God's character - perfect love. Jesus fulfils all Old Testament law and prophets. Jesus makes us right by faith alone.
Paul uses the word - justified. It means to declare righteous. When we have faith in Jesus and his finished work we are justified, we are declared righteous. The Jewish and Gentile divisions have no place in the Roman church as they are all made righteous by Jesus alone.
At church almost every week we have communion together. We use a small biscuit and juice to represent the body and blood of Jesus. We remember and thank Jesus, we join with him. By the selfless sacrificial love of Jesus we have life, now and for eternity. We are forgiven, we are made righteous and we are given hope.
If you can take communion at home today with whatever is at your disposal. Remember and thank Jesus.
Through the first 3 chapters Paul explained how all people can only be made righteous through faith in Jesus. That all Old Testament law and prophets are fulfilled in Jesus. In chapter 4, Paul refers to Abraham and David. Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, was made righteous through faith. Verse 7 and 8 refer to Psalm 32, stating David was forgiven by faith. Paul is likely directing this message towards the Jews who observe and uphold the law by referencing their Jewish heroes.
How else does the Old Testament point towards Jesus?
How should our understanding of the Good News of Jesus impact how we read our entire Bible?
- extra reading
We were introduced to Abraham in the previous reading, here Paul expands on him more. Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation. God made Abraham a promise - a covenant. God promised to give Abraham a family, land and bless him. God also promised that through Abraham all the families of the world would be blessed. Jesus is the fulfilment of this promise. This blessing is found in Jesus, that all people, from all nations are made righteous by faith. Now Jew and Gentile are a part of one multi-ethnic family of faith, both heirs of the Abrahamic promise.
All individuals who believe in Jesus are a part of one family in faith. Does that impact how you see fellow Christians? How about other churches?
What hope and encouragement does this bring?
- extra reading Genesis 12:1-3
In the first four chapters Paul detailed how, through faith in Jesus alone, all peoples can be made righteous and are justified (declare righteous). That, through Jesus, a new family of faith is established. Paul begins chapter 5 by listing the blessings for those who come to Jesus in faith.
Paul uses the word reconciliation. God reconciled us to himself through Jesus. We are also called ministers of reconciliation.
What does this look like in the day to day?
Paul contrasts Jesus to Adam. Adam was the first human created by God, his name literally means ‘human’. Adam is a representation of all humanity as he sinned in the garden. Sin was initially an archery term, meaning to miss the mark. All humanity has missed the mark, the ways of God. All humanity has sinned and fallen short as we have already read. Now, Jesus—a ‘new Adam’—came to earth sinless, and defeated sin and death once and for all, providing righteousness and life for all who believe by faith.
Even though all humanity has sinned, we find it all too easy to pass judgement. How does the Gospel humble us and help us view our neighbours?
- extra reading Genesis 3:1-24
So if we are made righteous by faith, it doesn’t matter how we behave or treat each other right? This is the thought that Paul now addresses, specifically using the practice of baptism.
Baptism is the immersion in water, joining Jesus in His death and resurrection. In baptism we are made new in Jesus. It is a decision to follow Jesus for the rest of your life, often done in front of family, friends and church community. Jesus himself was baptised and sets the example. When we are baptised, when we follow and believe in Jesus we are made new. We have a new family of faith and we have a new way of living.
We are made new in Jesus. That means the old is gone. This is a spiritual reality, which becomes a physical reality as we continue to follow Jesus in obedience and we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. We are made righteous by faith but our response to that is to love and serve one another in the example of Jesus.
Is there anything today we need to leave behind?
Why is our response to follow the example of Jesus important?
Have you been baptised? If you have, reflect on the day and the meaning of it all. If you haven’t, perhaps it’s time.
We were slaves to sin, now we are slaves to Christ. This is often the way some of the New Testament writers introduced themselves. A slave to sin leads to death, a slave to Christ leads to eternal life.
We might not want to think of ourselves as slaves. But if we think of Jesus as a master, we get this image: humble; gentle; loving; and kind.
To be a slave to Christ is to follow his example and way of life. What is his example?
Eternal life is a long time. It is literally immeasurable. How does this promise give hope for today?
These 6 verses can be a tricky read. What is Paul talking about?
He is talking about the law, the rules and instructions listed in the Old Testament and added to over time. In a marriage, when one party dies the other is no longer bound. Paul is using this as an illustration for the Romans and the law. Because of Jesus, as they are made new in Jesus, they are no longer bound to the law.
Why was this good news? The law was burdensome and in the end could not make anyone righteous in their own might. It even excluded some people due to ethnicity, sickness or other various reasons. Now by faith in Jesus they are made new, a new way of living, no longer bound to the law. A new way of living that follows the example of Jesus.
Why do you think it was so important for Paul to teach about this to the Roman church? What freedom would it have brought?
So, what was even the point of the law? Especially if it wasn’t the final answer.
According to Paul it showed the Jews how to live. However, the more laws they received the more they disobeyed. Paradoxically making the nation of Israel even more guilty. Again we need to remember, all Old Testament laws and prophets point to and are fulfilled in Jesus. It was God's plan from the start.
Paul still sees this at play in his own heart; ‘I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.’ It’s a mouthful but read it slowly, it makes sense, too much sense.
Even with Jesus we often think and act in a way we don’t want to. A way in which we wished we hadn’t. Have you ever found yourself in this position?
What is the answer? You guessed it, Jesus. Paul will unpack this further in the next chapter.
Remember the last section? We think and do things we don’t want to and wish we didn’t. ‘There is no condemnation to those who belong to Christ Jesus’. Me and you are not condemned. We are forgiven and given life through Jesus by faith, we are made righteous and justified, that is the truth.
But what about our thoughts and life? We are given the Spirit - the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's presence on earth, Jesus said it was better to leave so the Holy Spirit would come. The Holy Spirit is the same spirit of Jesus. Promised to be with and within all who believe in Jesus. Paul talks about being led and filled by the Spirit instead of the flesh. We talked about how we are called to follow the example of Jesus, even be a slave of Christ. It is through the Holy Spirit's power we are able to follow the example of Jesus.
As we follow Jesus more and more, we are filled with the Spirit more and more. We rely on the Holy Spirit rather than our own strength and wisdom. The Holy Spirit leads us to a path of life. It produces good things in our life, like the fruit of the Spirit Paul talked about in Galatians.
So what is the answer? We continue to fall short. But we are forgiven and given life. As we continue to follow Jesus, humbly and openly, we are filled with God's presence and given the power to follow the ways of Jesus.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, fill you afresh with the presence and power of God. Wait and be still.
- extra reading Galatians 5:22-23
Paul declares that because of what Jesus has done, the transformative Spirit within us and the future promise of a new heavens and new earth, we can have hope. We can look forward to the future on this earth and eternity in hope because of Jesus, His promise and the Holy Spirit within us.
Read verses 31 to 39 slowly. You are more than a conqueror. Conqueror of what? Sin and death through the power of Jesus. What can separate you from God's love? Absolutely nothing, not even hell! What amazing love and grace this is, love that is perfectly revealed in Jesus.
Have you ever felt separated or at a distance from God? What do these verses tell us about that? What is the truth?
Paul begins chapter nine by anguishing over Israel and their rejection of Jesus. The Jewish people hoped for a Messiah. Jesus came and many rejected him, the religious leaders had him killed. Paul, who was previously named Saul, persecuted and hunted down Christians before meeting Jesus. Paul a Jew himself longed that his people would believe and follow Jesus, because it is by Jesus alone we are saved.
Many Jews held onto their ethnicity as a Jew as the reason they were right with God. Using Old Testament examples Paul explains that being a physical descendent of Abraham never made a person automatically a member of the family of faith. Throughout time both Jew and Gentiles had been open and have had hardened hearts towards God.
Now, through Jesus, there is a new family of faith of Jews and Gentiles. Let’s stop and remember one of the reasons for writing this book, the likely disagreements and disunity between Jews and Gentiles. We might not have those exact disagreements today, but there are lots of other things to be divided on.
By whom are we unified? Who needs a Saviour?
In chapter 9 Paul quotes from the Old Testament a number of times. We need to remember all the Bible points to Jesus and is fulfilled in Jesus. We need to read all the Bible through the lens of Jesus. Read the Old Testament passages below. How do they point towards Jesus?
- extra reading - Hosea 2:23, Hosea 1:10, Exodus 33:19
Paul continues speaking to the Jews in chapter 10. Declaring and pleading with them to stop trying and thinking they make themselves right by obeying the law. Righteousness only comes by faith in Jesus. Perhaps some questions for us to consider today.
Do we ever supplement our faith with works to ‘make ourselves’ right with God?
Do we ever have an inflated view of our ‘good behaviour’?
When we see and walk with other people, are we works or faith focused? Is Jesus the starting point? If we start with behaviour before belief we are in trouble.
So what about Israel? Salvation has been made available to all people through faith in Jesus, grafted into the new family of faith. Perhaps we will use the story of the prodigal son, that Jesus told, to help us understand this passage.
A man had two sons. The younger wasted his inheritance on wild living, disgracing his Father. The son returned home in hopes of becoming a slave. The Father, who had been waiting and looking for him, ran to meet him, embraced him, restored the son and threw a party. The older brother refused to come inside for the party. Livid at the mercy and grace given to his younger brother. This older brother never left home but was just as lost.
God welcomes both Jew and Gentile into his presence. Many of Israel refused to believe in Jesus and come home to join, with the younger brother, in this new family of faith. The Father offers the same mercy and invitation to both sons, the generosity and love of the Father is constant. Israel, the older brother is beloved and invited to join the party, the new family of faith.
The heart of God is for all humanity to repent and turn to him with humble hearts, both Jews and Gentile.
Read verses 33-36 slowly. Many commentators believe these verses conclude the entirety of the letter up until this point.
- extra reading Luke 15:11-32
As Paul draws closer to the end of his letter he begins to focus on what this new family of faith should look like. In this chapter, Paul speaks about the renewing of our mind, how we interact with each other, and how we love each other.
What stands out to you?
What could you ask the Holy Spirit to help you with today?
Paul continues to describe what this new way of life is, a love the fulfils the law. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God, second equally to love your neighbour.
Paul says to clothes yourself with Christ Jesus. What do you think this means? Do we need to be intentional in this?
“Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification”.
While one family of faith, the Jews and Gentiles likely still had a number of differences. Differences over what one may eat, days they may observe, and so on. Paul is saying be gracious. Don’t think of yourselves better than the other. Stop passing judgement. Do what you think is personally right and love your neighbour.
The present day church, in all its flavours, styles and denominations, must work for peace. It is so easy to pass judgment. How does remembering the sacrifice of Jesus bring perspective to this?
How could you be gracious to someone different to you today?
Paul continues to plead with the church to love, serve and accept one another. One of my favourite verses is verse 13;
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’.
Who could you pray this for today in our family of faith, that they will be filled with all joy and peace, that they will overflow in hope? Spend some time praying for our church and community.
As the letter comes to a close Paul shares with the Roman church his plans and asks for prayer. Too often we go it alone in life. Even Jesus asked the disciples to pray with him.
Who could you reach out to today?
When was the last time you asked someone to pray with and for you?
You have done it. You’ve reached the end of Romans.
A beautiful book that unpacks how faith in Jesus is the only way to life for all people. As our diverse humanity believes in Jesus, a new family of faith is created. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, which empowers us to follow the way of Jesus, a new way of living. Paul ends by greeting and encouraging a whole lot of people.
As we finish today, is there anyone you could encourage?